Sugden battles pressure to take Dubai bronze

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Louise Sugden believes that there are lessons to learn despite winning -86kg bronze at the Fazza Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai.

The former Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, who made the move across to powerlifting in 2017 and took silver on the Gold Coast last year, twice failed at 111kg before successfully lifting the 112kg required on her third and final attempt to claim a podium place.

And while the effort was enough to edge out Brazil’s Tayana Medeiros for bronze – with gold claimed by reigning Paralympic bronze medallist Amany Ali and silver by Folashade Oluwafeniayo – Sugden hopes that she won’t be faced with the same third-lift pressure again any time soon.

“Not a performance I’m particularly proud of but always happy to bring home a bit of bling,” she said afterwards on social media.

“So many lessons from today and lots to work on in the coming months.

“I am proud of myself for coping with the pressure and getting my 3rd lift after 2 no lifts but I never want to be in that position again!”

Her bronze medal takes GB’s tally to four for the Dubai event, with former European champion Micky Yule taking bronze in the -80kg and Olivia Broome claiming senior bronze and junior gold in the -50kg category.